The ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which escalated dramatically on February 28, 2026, has emerged as a serious challenge for the BRICS grouping. What was intended as a platform for multipolarity and Global South solidarity is now grappling with internal divisions, diplomatic paralysis, and economic disruptions caused by a conflict involving its own members.
Rivalries Among Members Imported into the Bloc
Iran became a full BRICS member in 2024, joining alongside the United Arab Emirates, and later Saudi Arabia and others. These Gulf states have longstanding adversarial relations with Tehran. When the war intensified, Iran responded to strikes by launching missiles and drones toward targets in the UAE and other Gulf nations, including energy infrastructure and US bases in the region. The UAE has intercepted numerous Iranian projectiles and accused Iran of aggression, while Iran has countered by claiming the UAE is complicit in attacks on its territory.
This direct confrontation has spilled into BRICS forums. At the foreign ministers’ meeting held in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026—under India’s chairmanship—Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clashed with the UAE delegation. Iran accused Gulf members of blocking consensus and supporting aggression, while the UAE demanded condemnation of Iranian strikes. The outcome was telling: for the second consecutive BRICS meeting, no joint statement was issued, only a vague chair’s summary acknowledging “differing views” on the Middle East situation.
Diplomatic Paralysis and Loss of Credibility
BRICS has positioned itself as an alternative to Western-dominated institutions, yet it has failed to issue any unified statement on the Iran war since its escalation. Iran has pushed the group to condemn US and Israeli actions as violations of international law and to take collective steps. Russia, China, and Brazil have shown greater sympathy toward Tehran, while India—balancing its ties with Israel and the United States—along with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have adopted more cautious or critical stances.
Under BRICS’ consensus-based decision-making rules, this has resulted in complete inaction. The bloc’s inability to manage a crisis involving its own members has raised questions about its effectiveness as a geopolitical actor. Analysts note that the conflict is testing whether BRICS can translate its multipolar rhetoric into coordinated action, and so far, it has fallen short.
Economic Shocks Hitting Members Unevenly
The war has repeatedly threatened the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint carrying around 20% of global oil and significant shares of energy imports for India and China. Iranian restrictions on shipping, combined with a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, have driven oil prices above $100 per barrel. This creates inflationary pressures and energy security concerns for major importers like India and China, while offering short-term gains—but also risks—for exporters such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.
These developments have overshadowed BRICS discussions on critical agendas such as energy security, de-dollarization, local-currency trade, and resistance to unilateral sanctions. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has repeatedly emphasized the need for unimpeded maritime commerce, directly reflecting New Delhi’s concerns over rising energy costs and supply disruptions.
A Stark Reminder of BRICS’ Limits
The expanded BRICS was designed to amplify the voice of emerging economies and challenge Western dominance. Instead, the Iran conflict has exposed the group’s structural weaknesses: clashing national interests—particularly among its new Middle Eastern members—difficulty in crisis management, and vulnerability to external shocks like oil price spikes and secondary sanctions.
While BRICS continues to advance cooperation in less contentious areas such as trade facilitation and digital infrastructure, the current crisis underscores the gap between its ambitions and its fractured reality. As meetings in India have demonstrated, when geopolitics turns confrontational, BRICS struggles to present a united front.
In essence, the Iran conflict is forcing the bloc to confront uncomfortable truths about its internal cohesion and practical influence on the global stage. How BRICS navigates this test in the coming months could shape its credibility for years to come.
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